Car-coupling



(No Model.) v

J. ROWE 8u T. B; JACK.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 457,672. Patented Aug. 11, 1891.

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ma mams ravens co., Novem-mo., msnmmun, n. cY

UNITED f STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOHN ROIVE, OF BRAIDIVOOD, AND THOMAS B. JACK, OF BRAOEVILLE,

ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,672, dated August11, 1891.

Application iiled April 22, 1891. Serial No. 389,956. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that we, JOHN ROWE, a residentof Braidwood, county of Will,and State of Illinois, and THOMAS B. JACK, a resident of Braceville, inthe county of Grundyand State of Illinois, both citizens of the UnitedStates, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCar-Couplings; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description ot' the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings,and to letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l of the drawings is a vertical longitudinal sectional view ofone draw-head and a side view of the other. Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

This invention relates to certain improvements in carcouplings; and itconsists in the novel construction and combination of parts, ashereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the letterAdesignates the hollow draw-head extending back under the car.

B designates the link-holding lever, hungl in the draw-head forward ofits center upon the transverse pivot-rod b, having bearings in the sidewalls. The forward end of this lever b is recessed vertically, as at c,to receive the link. The weight of that portion of the lever at the rearof its pivot-rod is sufficient to normally hold the front portion in anelevated position to receive the link.

D designates the angular lock or catch pivoted at its angle in the rearbottom portion of the draw-head chamber. The longer arm G of theangle-catch is provided with the camslot d, which is engaged by a bail hof a transverse shaft H. The upper end of this arm normally rests on therear end portion of the link-retaining lever B. The shorter arm g of thecatch normally rests in a recess g in the bottom of the chamber.

The link of the approaching car entering beneath the raised forward endof the lever, strikes against the rear wall of the recess c, throwingthe rear end of the lever upwardly and causing the forward end to dropthrough and engage the link. Vhen in this position, the angular catch Dwill drop into engagement with a shoulder 7a on the rear end of thelever, holding it in its locking` position.

When it is desired to effect the nncoupling, the transverse shaft H isoperated by means of a hand wheel or leverL on either side of the car,which by means of its bail-engagement with the cam-slot of the catchwill raise said catch from engagement with the shoulder of the lever,which by its own gravity Will drop, elevating the forward end andreleasing the link. The weight of the lower arm of the angle-catch willcause its upper arm to fall into position upon thelink-retaining leverto again engage the shoulder lo, when a coupling is effected. A ratchetM isalso carried by t-he shaft H and adapted to be engaged by a pawl mon the car for the purpose of holding the angular catch in case it isdesired to bring one car into contact with another for the purpose ofpushing the car onto a side track without etfecting a coupling, or forany other purpose.

l/Vhen in coupling position, the lower forward end of the lever B bearsagainst the recessed shoulder P at the front portion of the bottom ofthe draw-head chamber, which receives the strain of the coupling.

It will be seen that the action of coupling is entirely automatic andthat the uncoupling may also be effected without the necessity ofentering between the cars.

The parts are few in number and not liable to become broken or out oforder.

I-Iavingthus described ourinvention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isfl. In a car-coupling, the combination, withthe draw-head, of the link-holding lever pivotally hung in saiddraw-head and normally held in position to receivethe link by gravity,said lever having the link-retaining recess and the catch having thecam-slot and adapted to engage a shoulder on said lever, and means foroperating said catch, substantially as specified. Y

2. The combination, with the lever pivotally hung in the draw-head andhaving its forward end normally held in position to re- IOO ceive thelink by the Weight of the rear end, of the pivoted catch adapted toengage a shoulder on said lever when it is in coupled position, and thetransverse shaft having a bail engaging a calnsslot in'said catch, sub=stantially as and for the purpose specified.

5.: The combination, with thedraW-head extending under the car, of thelink-retaining lever pivoted therein, the catch for locking 1o saidlever, the transverse shaft having a bail engaging a slot in the catch,means for operating said shaft, and a ratchet-and-pawl connectiontherewith, substantially as specified. In testimony whereof We affix oursignatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ROVE. THOMAS B. JACK. Witnesses;

E. D. SCOTT, WM. PHILLIPS.

